Filmed at the Harmonie Club in Bonn, Germany in 2005, Pure is in essence, pure Nektar, the magical progressive rock band who have seen a resurgence since their reformation a few years back. Germany was always their "hotspot" back in the 70's, and this concert was highly anticipated by the band, and it shows in their performance. The line-up here features original members Roye Albrighton (guitar/vocals), Ron Howden (drums/vocals), plus new members Randy Dembo (bass/bass pedals/vocals) and Tom Hughes (keyboards/vocals). Together they bring plenty of classic Nektar material to life once again.
Almost every spot in the Nektar discography is touched up on here, with Roye and the boys really digging down deep for an inspired performance. "A Tab in the Ocean" rocks hard with plenty of guitar riffs from Albrighton and Hammond organ from Hughes, while the medley of "Dream Nebula/Desolation Valley/Waves" is a psychedelic treat. The band rips into both parts of "Remember the Future", probably their most well-known and beloved album to this day. This piece of music is progressive, psychedelic, funky, and rocks hard at the same time. Other highlights on the DVD include the epic "The Debate" (one of the strongest tracks from the recent Evolution album), the symphonic prog-rock of "Recycled", the quirky "Fidgety Queen", and the few other medley's which bring together more of the vintage Nektar material so the band could squeeze as much into the set as possible. As always, Albrighton's guitar skills are in top form, and while he may not be able to hit some of the high notes that he used to 30 years ago, his vocals are fine here. Howden delivers his usual solid drum work, and the young guns Dembo and Hughes fit into their roles perfectly. Dembo's Rickenbacker bass lines are quite melodic, and Hughes contributes all the right Hammond and synth tones needed to recreate these classic songs.
The second DVD contains a short acoustic set, and is a nice bonus here, along with some other extra features like an interview, slideshow, bio, and discography. The entire package makes for a great addition to any Nektar or prog-rock fan's DVD library.
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. A Tab In The Ocean
2. Dream Nebula/Desolation Valley/Waves
3. Remember The Future Part I
4. Remember The Future Part II
5. Cast Your Fate
6. The Debate
7. Cryin' In The Dark/King Of Twilight
8. That's Life
9. Show Me The Way
10. A Day In The Life Of A Preacher/Squeeze/Mr. H.
11. Recycled
12. Good Day
13. Fidgety Queen
Disc 2: Acoustic Set
1. Do You Believe In Magic
2. Telephone
3. Always
4. Good Day
Special Features including: Interview, Slideshow, Biography, Discography.
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